Summer Camp Survival Guide: Because Summer Break is Not a Break for Parents
Ah, summer. That magical time of year when the kids are off school, the days are long, and your coffee budget skyrockets. While your little darlings are dreaming of cannonballs into the pool and endless popsicle binges, you might be dreaming of... peace and quiet.
Enter the Summer Camp Guide—your superhero cape disguised as a clickable link. This is where summer dreams and parental sanity collide in a glorious symphony of structure, learning, and someone else asking your kid to stop talking during snack time.
Whether your child wants to become a coding prodigy, an aspiring artist, or a junior park ranger, we've got options to match every interest—and ensure they return home exhausted enough to skip the "I'm bored" chant for at least one evening.
So grab your calendar, fire up the group chat with fellow parents, and prepare to find the perfect camp that guarantees a summer of epic memories... and maybe a quiet moment for yourself.
Because if summer camp is the kids’ adventure, it’s your vacation too. Sort of.
Let’s dive in!
Adventure & Outdoor Camps | Faith Based Camps | General Day Camps | Life Skills Camps | Other Summer Camps | Overnight Camps | STEAM & Educational Camps | Sports Camps | Visual & Performing Arts Camps
Dexterity Depot’s Summer Camps are the ultimate adventure for kids ages 6–14! With Ninja Warrior and Parkour instruction, games, and open gym time, your kids will stay active, make friends, and have FUN. Camps run June 9–13 and July 14–18, with morning and afternoon sessions available.
75 Utley Drive, , Suite 102, Camp Hill, PA Read MoreDive into a summer of sensory and pretend play at Jubilee’s Mini Mansion Summer Camps! Kids ages 5-12 will explore 15 magical playhouses, create arts and crafts, and enjoy snacks, pizza, and drinks. Camps run Tuesday-Thursday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM—perfect for an afternoon of fun and creativity. Reserve your spot today!
105 Gateway Dr , Mechanicsburg, PA Read MoreUnlock your child's creativity and future potential with Code Ninjas Summer Camps! The ultimate hands-on learning experience for your technology-loving children! Our STEM Camps help teach important life skills such as leadership, creativity, problem-solving, critical and computational thinking - all wrapped up in themes they love, like Robotics, Roblox, Minecraft, YouTube, and more! Spaces are limited, so register NOW for an epic tech-filled summer. It’s not just about tech—it’s about preparing for the future while having an unforgettable summer with new friends.
Don’t wait—our spots fill up fast! Give your child the opportunity to think bigger, dream brighter, and code smarter. Sign up today for a summer of fun, learning, and discovery!
AROMA All-Sports Camps: A Summer of Sports and Faith!
Messiah University’s AROMA All-Sports Camps provide boys and girls ages 7-14 with a faith-filled summer of athletic fun and personal growth. New for 2025: a Middle School Camp offering sport-specific training, strength and conditioning, team competitions, and Bible lessons. Multiple locations and dates are available. Discounts and payment plans offered—register now before spots fill! Mechanicsburg, PA Read MoreBerkshire Lake Arts Camp provides top-tier dance, theater and visual arts instruction, plus all the magic of traditional camp for girls ages 7-15.
Hinsdale, Massachusetts
Read MoreWith 350 basketball camps in nearly every state nationwide, Breakthrough Basketball coaches firmly believe that they have a very important responsibility and an amazing opportunity to have a positive impact on their players' lives.
Score big in 2025 - at a Breakthrough Basketball Camp!
Locations Nationwide
Read MoreCamp GOTR: Empowering Girls Through Fun and Friendship!
Camp GOTR combines life skills, physical activity, and creativity in a supportive environment for girls entering grades 3-5. With full-day and half-day options at Harrisburg and Mechanicsburg locations, campers enjoy engaging lessons, field trips, and official GOTR gear. Financial assistance is available. Registration opens February 7, 2025—secure your spot today! Mechanicsburg, PA Read MoreWith nearly 200 acres in the cool Allegheny Mountains near the border of Virginia and West Virginia, Camp Twin Creeks welcomes your camper to join its lifelong community of summer campers.
From arts and sports to water and adventure, Camp Twin Creeks is where friendships flourish, childhood thrives and independence grows! By unplugging from technology and the distractions of everyday life, campers are able to connect with new friends and mentors, try new things, and develop confidence and independence.
Read MoreChallenge Island Summer Camps: STEAM Adventures for Creative Minds!
Challenge Island Summer Camps offer kids hands-on STEAM activities and exciting weekly themes, encouraging creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. With adventures like designing roller coasters or exploring outer space, campers will learn, grow, and make lifelong memories. Perfect for elementary and middle school kids!
Mechanicsburg, PA Read MoreUnlock your child's creativity and future potential with Code Ninjas Summer Camps! Whether they're creating in 3D, exploring robotics, or modding in Minecraft, your child will explore the exciting world of coding, game development, and tech creation—all while having an absolute blast! Guided by expert instructors, kids will enhance their creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, gaining confidence that extends far beyond the screen. It’s not just about tech—it’s about preparing for the future while having an unforgettable summer with new friends.
Don’t wait—our spots fill up fast! Give your child the opportunity to think bigger, dream brighter, and code smarter. Sign up today for a summer of fun, learning, and discovery!
Multiple Locations
Read MoreEcho Hill Camp on the Chesapeake Bay offers a unique free-choice program where children chart their own adventure, and every day brings new possibilities. Set against the backdrop of the stunning Chesapeake Bay, campers master favorites like sailing and water skiing and build essential life skills while being guided by exceptional counselors who truly understand today's youth.
Here, campers experience the kind of summer they will remember – one filled with starlit campfires, rustic living, and genuine human connections away from screens and social media. Our century-old tradition of outdoor living creates the perfect environment for kids to develop independence, resilience, and lifelong friendships. Worton, Maryland Read MoreWidely recognized across the Midwest as Ohio’s premier summer camp, Falcon is an excellent opportunity for young people to gain a strong camping experience---and have a great time!
Falcon offers a beautiful lakefront setting, a talented mature staff, and a wide variety of activities. Our 1:4 staff/camper ratio enables us to give each Falcon camper the individual attention necessary to ensure a summer of fun and learning. Falcon counselors average five years of “Falcon experience” as campers and staff. Falcon is accredited by the American Camp Association under a set of over 300 standards emphasizing health, safety, and program quality.
Carrollton, Ohio
Read MoreCamp Hoover has been creating life-changing experiences since 1953. Nestled within 340 acres of forests, hills, and a tranquil lakefront in Middleville, it offers campers in first through 12th grade opportunities to embrace independence, build friendships, and connect with nature. Campers enjoy activities like horseback riding, canoeing, hiking, and STEM programs, fostering growth and discovery in a supportive environment. Whether developing new skills or conquering fears, every moment at Camp Hoover reflects Girl Scout values, inspiring confidence, resilience, and lifelong memories. It’s a place where campers expand their horizons and experience the transformative power of the outdoors.
Middleville, New Jersey
Read MoreMy Gym Summer Camp
Ages 4-10 | June 9 – August 22, 2025
Make this summer unforgettable with My Gym Summer Camp! Your kids will enjoy three hours of nonstop fun featuring gymnastics, games, tumbling, relays, coloring, and more. Flexible session packages, a dynamic schedule, and a safe, nurturing environment make this the ultimate summer adventure. Sessions run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 PM to 4 PM—sign up now before spots fill up!
My Gym camp is simply the best! Children participate in energizing fitness games, noncompetitive gymnastics, music and so much more. Each camp program is uniquely designed to keep your children moving and active, as we emphasize physical development and personal success. Our activities change daily, so no two camp days at My Gym are ever the same. Whether you are looking for the best place to send your children on cold and rainy days or trying to keep them active and cool during the hot summer months, My Gym camp is the place to be. We make it easy for parents with our drop-off program, pay-by-the day options, and multi-day discounts.
USA Ninja Challenge offers exciting day camp experiences in Camp Hill, PA for kids ages 4-12! Our camp program focuses on building confidence through fun and fitness. Kids will have the chance to test their limits in a safe environment, navigating obstacles with children their own age. Ninja camps are the best way to provide a fun time of specific skills training, ninja games, and ninja course creation that will keep kids engaged day after day!
1909 State Street , Camp Hill, , PA Read MoreOakes Museum Summer Camps: Inspire Curiosity This Summer!
Discover the world of natural history through hands-on exploration at the Oakes Museum Summer Camps. With options for students in grades 3-12, these camps feature fieldwork, lab experiments, and expert-led sessions. Lunch is included, and scholarships are available. Space is limited—register today!
Email oakesmuseum@messiah.edu for more details. Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, PA Read MoreTrinity Harrisburg Vacation Bible School: A Journey Through God’s Word
Trinity Harrisburg's Vacation Bible School offers children a meaningful and engaging opportunity to explore God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation. Through lessons, crafts, music, games, and more, children will discover biblical truths and learn how the Bible shapes their everyday lives.
Last year’s theme, The Great Jungle Journey, focused on the 7 C’s of History: Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, and Consummation, helping children understand how these key events connect to their faith.
Dates and registration details for this year’s program will be announced soon. Join us for a week of faith-filled learning and fellowship. 6098 Locust Lane, , Harrisburg, PA Read MoreWhitaker Center Summer Camps 2025: Ignite Curiosity!
Calling all explorers, creators, and future innovators! Whitaker Center’s Summer Camps are back with hands-on activities, creative challenges, and exciting themes for every interest—from STEAM and art to coding and theater. Stay tuned for the full lineup and get ready for an unforgettable summer of discovery and fun!
Visit whitakercenter.org/camps or call 717-724-3865 to learn more.
222 Market Street , Harrisburg, PA Read MoreHere’s what you’ll unlock with a Summer Camp listing:
6.5 months of promotion: February through mid-August, with over 200,000 impressions.
Prime visibility: Featured placement in newsletters and on our homepage.
Engaged audience: 8,000+ newsletter subscribers and 6,000+ social media followers.
Social media love: At least 6 posts dedicated to our Summer Camp Guide.
Trusted community presence: Families trust Macaroni KID as their go-to resource for local events and programs.
I am Rachael and I live in Cumberland Valley with my husband, a couple of jerk cats, and my approximately 6348 kids (oh, wait, I meant four, but same noise level.) I'll bring you the scoop on what do in the Cumberland Valley and Harrisburg area. Be sure to check our weekly newsletter, I'll keep the calendar full of local events for families to help you find your family fun!
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